I checked everyplace but nothing turned up. Oh well, I have enough gold now that I can buy a shield. I did find a couple nice ones, but had no space in my inventory and they had to be identified to equip. I should have dropped some of my stuff.

I finished the Forgotten Tower and am on my way to the monastery. The prayer aura for the paladine is really handy.

I finished the monastery and as a reward for returning the hammer I got some super upgrades to my superior sceptor. I can't use it yet because I'm not quite to level 12. I did find a large shield and this time I had a scroll to identify it. The zeal skill looks like it might be a great one to have and I'm working towards it. I'm going to have to do some leveling up before I attempt the next quest.

My credo with Diablo 2 is: anything that freezes/slows down the enemy will keep you alive. I never played a Paladin all the way to Diablo, but I can tell you with the Sorceress she is very effective with cold based spells. Frost Nova will slow down whole groups of monsters and do a little damage.

Finally made it all the way through the jail. So many rooms and I was never sure I was heading the right way. I missed a way point in the first level but found the one in the inner cloister. Safe for the moment, we'll rest up for tomorrow. My paladine is at level 12.

I have both Diablo 2 and LOD, the expansion. Should I have installed both instead of just Diablo 2? Would it do anything for my game? I understand that two new characters are available and other small changes, but is it anything significant?

There are also lots more 'unique' magic items, and more things you can put in slotted items.

Finally, there's a whole new chapter, beyond Diablo himself, that's easily as big as each of the earlier chapters - no cheapskate option at Blizzard!

I'm currently playing a level 9 Druid - nice poison vines and rolling meteor spell! I've not got as far as the Monastery yet.

I've finished the game in the past playing as a Barbarian. Though I have to admit that the hack-n-slash dog piling style of the Barbarian suits me better than the stand-offish position of the magic users.

I've been making my way through the catacombs after the cathedral. The going is definitely tougher. Big spiders---ugh! I had to do every room in catacomb level 2 before I found the waypoint. Always a relief when that is done. I just leveled to 13. On to catacomb level 3 and eventually the big boss.

Andariel has been defeated. After all the work reaching her, she wasn't that tough. She conveniently came to the catacomb stairs so I could run up and heal easily. On to Act 2 after a good night's rest.